The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-21
EDUCATING A SHAMMAN.
How Tartar Divinity Student Is Tr aimed or
Duty.

How a Tartar Divinity Student Is Tr aimed or
Duty.
st. James Gazette.
In all nomad Tartar communities-such, form
stance, as the Khirgese hordes of the inner stepe
between the Volea and the Ural-the A'Shan-
man." or medicine man, is person of frst.rite
Importance. He is the priest and prophet of ne
wandering tent folk, physician and soothsayr,
saint and thaumaturg. He is regarded as berg
familiar terms with the unseen powe's
OF the universe, and is supposed %
tire Shammanist Pantheon, from the tiles
tori" or good spirits" who ride upon the I'D
foxes" to the four-horned demons who rule
the neither world. His blessing can insure god
health and success in life; his prayers can wad
off evil and avert an early death: his adjuratios
cure sickness and prevent disease He is q
vered as one semi divine, and no Tartar cen-
mony, whether in connection with a birth. dean,
marriage or funeral can be performed without
him. He has his ''yurta." and thisis
deemed sacred to the superstitious nomadsas
the holy groves and hills, the ''stocks" aid
stones" which everywhere objects of wr-
shin TO the wandering Mougol tribes.
The Office of Shamman is not hereditary amOg
the Khirgese Tartars Only specially endo7ed
individuals considered eligible for the dg-
nifty. The great medicine man of an encanp-
ment, known as the "Ulukam," himself selets
the pupil or disciple who is to succeed him. He
always pitches upon a young man of weak and
nervous constitution. One subject to eplleplc
fits is deemed specially qualified for the priesiy
function. Such a one is taken in hand by ne
elder man, dosed with certain herbs that ted
to produce mental citation, taught the mysic
language and formulas of Shammanlsm ttorlt
has gibberish all its own which laymen are
not suffered to learn.) and, lastly. be Is n
structed in beating the sacred ''tiur, kind OF
tambourine that is used in the lamentations
and ceremonies peculiar to the cult. As SON
as he has undergone this preparation he is
sent to the ''holv-woods" and obliged to sped
twelve months. from spring to spring, in pr
feet isolation, there to ponder on the mysteres
into which he has been indicted. and to seeif
the spirits visit him. II, during this perloc, 10
has visions Of falling fits or hears strange voices
he is forth with promoted to be "kitchkams"
'l.stlo Shamman," the people call him, ard
after another years probation he becomesa
fully qualified medicine man.
On all occasions when his services are IL
requisition the Shamman wears a special COS
tune every item of which is deemed sacred
His face is never seen and, whatever ceremon!
he may be engaged in his eyes must De closed
formed of the head of a gray owl, its wings
and tail banging down behind. The
front bears the six-rayed star. known
as the s'doni-lam BASH" worked In
shells. From the cap depend scores Of long,
many-colored ribbons. falling below the waist
and completely hiding his face from view. His
coat is of goatskin, fur side out, and this coat
or HAITIAN. called ''kamnichtach," must be made
of small lengths OF skin offered to the priest by
those who have derived benefit from his exer'
cises. Each ''yurta"-no matter how many oc'
cupants it have-is only allowed to give one
strip, that the length of the garment and
lumber of pieces comprising it indicate at once
the status Of the medicine man and the extent OF
his practice. It is uncommon thing in some
parts for the HAITIAN to consist Of
more than two thousand separate
STRIPS of goatskin, and when it ss no longer
practicable to add to the length of the coat it is
usual to tie little metal bells and tokens to the
ribbons that hang down from the pointed cap.
To the shoulders of the garment are sewn the
extended wings of the sacred gray owl. SO dis
posed that the bird appears to be lowering
over thu wearer when he seats himself on the
ground. In his right hand the Shamman car
ries the previously mentioned ''tiur'-a sort of
large sized tambourine, on which are depicted
in red ochre the principal objects of Shamman-
list worship and mythology; the sun. moon and
stars; the twelve ''tiesstori" who ride on the
sacred red foxes. the symbolic bridge between
the upper and the newer world, and the four
horned demons with their red hoofs and claws.
The thur" is beaten with kind of wooden
malet covered with fox fur, known by the
name of ''orba" AS the instrument is en-
ployed in all exorcisms and incantations, it is
fashioned from the wood of some one or other OF
the many sacred trees which found where
ever the Tartar nomads have carried their priIn-
tive supersttions. When beaten all evil spir
its must depart; hence it accompanies the medi-
cine man whenever he pays a professional visit
to any of his patients.